About 11 years ago, Ken Rouse and Ricardo “Ricky” Ontiveros Rosas were matched as Big and Little Brothers with Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters in Sedona, Arizona. During that time, Ken and Ricky have shared many learning experiences, while developing a close friendship.
Their time together has ranged from just hanging out to visiting museums, art galleries, going to professional baseball and football games in the Phoenix area, playing tennis and baseball or engaging in conversation focused on what life is all about and their plans for the future.
When Ricky was 9 or 10, Ken’s adult son, Douglas, who is a professional artist, was painting a three-dimensional 10,000-sq. ft. mural on the wall of the Warehouse Restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colo. Douglas decided to include his Dad and Ricky in the mural, so he painted them in the picture with Ricky on Ken’s shoulders and the words on Ken’s white shirt, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”
Ricky had seen photographs of the painting but had never actually visited it. When Ricky aged-out of the YBBBS match, Ken and Ricky decided to stay friends.
They took a trip to see the mural in October 2020. It was Ricky’s first time to fly in an airplane. They spent the night in Old Town Colorado Springs in Douglas’ home and then toured Colorado Springs, including the Garden of the Gods. They made sure to visit the mural which Douglas painted on the Warehouse Restaurant wall.
“It was a fantastic celebration and a trip that we will all remember,” said Ken.
They have clearly made the transition from Big Brother and Little Brother to being friends – a long-term relationship made possible by Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
Credit: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters press release and photo courtesy of Ken Rouse.